(Radio Iowa) — Iowa is joining 29 states in creating some basic rules of the road for vehicles without a human behind the wheel. Representative Ashley Hinson of Marion says although it may be years before driverless or fully “autonomous” vehicles are in use, it’s time to start planning. “The wheels of technology are turning fast, moving forward and vehicle safety is definitely in question for the future and this bill speaks to many of those things,” Hinson says.

The new law will require driverless cars and trucks to carry liability insurance. The manufacturer must certify that all applicable federal safety standards have been met on the vehicle, unless an exception has been granted. Hinson predicts lawmakers will have to address other issues surrounding driverless vehicles. “We’re going to have to talk about lane striping, work zones, data sharing practices, education and outreach because, let’s face it, there is a lot of that that needs to happen before these vehicles are on the road,” Hinson says. “And I would anticipate there will be some further conversations about liability as these vehicles come to fruition.”

The new law, which goes into effect July 1st, specifies that driverless public buses will authorized — when the technology is ready for the public streets and roads. The governor approved the new law last Friday.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — Iowa transportation officials have approved $16 million to pay for nighttime work on the Interstate 74 bridge over the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities because of delays blamed on an icy winter followed by spring flooding. The Quad-City Times reports the Iowa Department of Transportation allocated the money to fund overtime needed to ensure the westbound bridge is finished in the first half of 2020. Danielle Alvarez, the Iowa agency’s project manager, says the $16 million will pay for additional labor and second-shift work.

Alvarez says a cold winter followed by flooding have made it unsafe to use extra-high cranes needed to install basket-handle style arches on the bridge connecting Iowa and Illinois. Despite the extra cost, the bridge is expected to cost less than the budgeted $1.2 billion.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy says it has been notified of fraudulent prescriptions being CALLED into pharmacies. The caller(s) appear to be targeting pharmacies in Northwest Iowa and are calling in prescriptions for antibiotics and promethazine with codeine.  The Board urges pharmacists to exercise due diligence when presented with prescriptions for controlled substances. If prescription fraud is suspected, you should contact your local authorities.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests from over the weekend. On Sunday, 56-year old Jesse Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and obstruction of emergency communication. Johnson was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge. On Saturday, 53-year old Leslie Hamilton, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Hamilton’s cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Former first lady of the United States Laura Bush is set to speak at a lecture series at the University of Northern Iowa. The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports that Bush will speak Oct. 9 as part of the Joy Cole Corning Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series.

Bush is an advocate for literacy, education and women’s rights. As first lady from 2001 to 2009, she advanced literary education to support America’s youth. She now serves as chairwoman of the Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas. She previously served as First Lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

The lecture series was established in 2001 by UNI alumna and former Iowa Lt. Gov. Joy Cole Corning.

A man laying on a road in Pottawattamie County Sunday evening, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Sheriff’s officials say a deputy was dispatched at around 7:35-p.m. to the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Meadowview Parkway for a man on the road stating he wanted to be hit (by a vehicle). 31-year old John Phillip Fry, of Council Bluffs was arrested at a location in the 12,000 block of Oakridge Court. His bond was set at $300.

A Pott. County deputy was dispatched at around 10:35-p.m. Saturday, to an unknown injury accident at the intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and the Old Mormon Bridge. The communications center informed the deputy a vehicle went off the road and down an embankment. Witnesses said the vehicle had been swerving all over the road prior to the crash. The driver, 43-year old Dawn Marie Darling, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

Friday afternoon, Pott. County deputies transported 34-year old Nikki Ann Segebart from the jail in Cerro Gordo County to Pott. County, where she was wanted on a valid warrant for Theft in the 1st degree. And, Friday evening, 19-year old Destiny Ann Marsh, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at a residence in the 100 block of N. Rodeo Drive, on a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. She was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

(Update 7:43-a.m., May 6) — A small car making an illegal U-turn was struck by a semi Sunday afternoon on Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa, resulting in the deaths of three children. The Two other people were injured. All of the victims were in the same vehicle. The injured were transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The children were said to be 11, 12 and 13-years of age. The 12-year old died overnight at the hospital. The driver and remaining occupant of the car remained in the hospital. There was no report on their conditions. Investigators have not released the names of those involved in the crash as they work to notify family members.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2010 KIA Rondo was traveling west on I-80 at around 1:07-p.m., when the driver slowed to make a left hand turn. The car crossed from the number two lane into the number one lane in an attempt to use the crossover to travel on the eastbound lanes. As the vehicle crossed into the number one lane, it was struck broadside by a 2020 Peterbilt semi. The car came to rest in the median, and the semi came to rest on the westbound lanes. The crash, which happened just west of Coralville, remains under investigation.